Cousin Dolores (Mike's sister) left a nice comment to "Mystery solved...maybe", and reminded me of an old story. (The original post was in response to a picture I posted on Mike's 50th birthday, and to the question where it had been taken - I'm pretty sure it was in my back yard, as it looked in 1961.)
So, welcome Dolores! I'm sorry it took so long for me to reply to your comment. Without further ado...
"I think your right Bob, that was my other guess, I remember the asparagus and I remember the other picture being taken as well> I remember that whole visit, we went to Fairyland remember?"
You may be right, but the way I remember it is that we went to Kiddieland, a smaller amusement park east of Independence. In either case I do remember that we went and we rode rides…here’s proof:
"And I went to the zoo with Dad and Uncle Al. Bob wouldn't go because "it stinks",I believe you meant literally."
Yes indeed, and that stemmed from memories of a trip to the zoo in 1958, give or take a year. We went with our friends the Muzzy’s, on a cool day in the winter (maybe late fall or early spring, anyway, no green leaves). We had our coats and caps on, and it started out okay. I remember seeing ducks or swans on a pond. We walked.
And we walked.
And we walked some more.
Eventually we came to a place that, to borrow my wife’s phrase, stank out loud. I don’t remember for sure what the offending animals were, but I have a very vague recollection of my sister Connie, or maybe our friend Melody, trying to cheer me up or get my attention by pointing and saying “Look at the funny monkeys”. Something like that, anyway.
All I knew was that I was tired, getting cold, there was this awful stink in my nose, and I really wanted to go back to my toys. With tears in my eyes, I kept saying “I wanna go home!” over and over. To no avail it seemed, though after a while we did go home. I don’t think I was overly stubborn or selfish as a four or five year old kid, but it came out that day.
I was a quiet kid at times and didn’t volunteer a whole lot of information. It could be that as the years went by, I was asked, “Why don’t you like the zoo”? But the conversation never got to a solution, like, “Oh, we can work it out. If some of the cages are stinky we’ll go look at other animals. We’ll go on a warmer day. You’re bigger now, the walking won’t tire you”.
Or, maybe I was more of a selfish kid than I like to think I was. I look back on it now as an early lesson I wasn’t quite ready for; not enough maturity. Things aren’t always going to suit me, but making a fuss and ruining the outing for others isn’t right.
Anyway, It wasn’t until 1973 that I visited any zoo again. Our college Astronomy class took a field trip to St. Louis to see the McDonnell Planetarium, and while we were in the area we also went to the St. Louis Zoo. I realized I’d been missing out all those years. The animals were interesting, I got a few pictures (of course I had my camera along), and I had a great time. Since then I’ve revisited the St. Louis Zoo at least twice, the new Kansas City Zoo, and zoos in Topeka, Omaha, Colorado Springs, Detroit, San Antonio, Austin, and Houston.
(Another lawn chair photo from your 1961 visit)
"I have been enjoying reading your memories"
Thank you so much! I’m really pleased about that, and I want you to feel free to comment anytime. I’m also glad I decided to heed your brother Mike’s advice, and started this blog. More and more I’m finding out how much I enjoy writing. That and having a digital camera and a scanner and being able to post images…well, it’s just way too much fun.
So Dolores, have you ever considered starting a blog? I’d really like to read your stories.
One more quick comment. Looking at the picture of Poppy's front porch reminds me of the times you and I made mudpies and "cooked" them in the sunshine on those concrete block steps, on hot July days when we'd both be at the farm. I seem to recall we also had an old plastic cup or glass that we'd squeeze those purple polk berries in, and maybe add some water. Of course, we were warned right away not to drink that, because the berries were poisonous. But we had "grape juice" to sit there and look good with our pies.
